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New Zealand's firearms laws have been overhauled for the first time in more than four decades, with the Arms Bill passing its final reading in Parliament.
For Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee, it is the culmination of six years of work. "On a personal level, this is a very special moment. I came to Parliament six years ago with a goal of completely replacing the Arms Act 1983. Today that goal has been achieved," she said.
The new law replaces the 1983 Act — long criticised as a confusing patchwork — with legislation McKee says is more logically structured and better targeted at genuine public safety risks.
The most consequential change is structural. A new regulator, Firearms Safety and Education New Zealand, will take over licensing, safety, and education functions from police. "Police will be able to focus on investigating crime and holding offenders to account, while the regulator focuses on licensing, firearms safety, education, and delivering a professional service to licenced firearm owners," McKee said.
That separation is significant. The firearms community has had a fractious relationship with police-administered regulation, particularly since the 2019 law changes that followed the Christchurch mosque attacks. McKee described the split as "an important step towards rebuilding trust and confidence in the firearms regulatory system."
For licenced owners — hunters, farmers, pest controllers, sport shooters — the practical changes are real. Pest control endorsements extend to five years. Business licences run for five years for those with a clean compliance record. The requirement for a permit to possess a firearm for short-term business activities, such as dropping a gun at a gunsmith for under 21 days, is gone. Visitor licences can now run up to 18 months on a multi-entry basis.
On enforcement, the law tightens. Gang members are disqualified from holding a firearms licence. Penalties increase for some offences, and eight new offences are created — including measures aimed at keeping firearms off the black market. A statutory red flag system formalises information sharing between police and other agencies, allowing them to flag concerns about whether a licenced owner remains a fit and proper person.
"The Bill keeps firearms out of criminals' hands, while making compliance easier for licenced firearm owners," McKee said. "It strengthens penalties and enforcement against unlawful firearms activity while removing unnecessary rules and improving the way the firearms system operates."
Most of the legislation, along with supporting regulations, comes into force on September 23. The remaining provisions roll in progressively through to February 23, 2028.